You Only Live Twice (1967)

My Review

“You Only Live Twice” is the fifth in the James Bond spy movie series where everyone’s favorite secret agent is sent to Japan after American and Soviet spacecraft vanish mysteriously, with each nation blaming the other amidst the Cold War. Director Lewis Gilbert (“Alfie” 1966) keeps up the high quality production values employed by Eon Productions in the first four films. The fantastic screenplay by Roald Dahl contributed greatly to the cause.

The cast is once again headed by Sean Connery as the fictional M16 agent James Bond, with co-stars Donald Pleasance as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny, Desmond Llewelyn as Q of the technical staff, Bernard Lee as M16 boss M, Mie Hama as Bond’s bride, Tetsuro Tamba as head of Japanese secret service, Teru Shimada as a businessman, Karin Dor as an assassin, and Charles Gray as a British ally in Japan.

The watchable “You Only Live Twice” was the seventh highest grossing film of 1967 for producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli, Eon Productions, and United Artists. The theme song. “You Only Live Twice,” was a big hit on the charts for singer Nancy Sinatra, music by John Barry and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. It was filmed primarily in Japan, with some scenes in England and Spain.